In an announcement from Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) this afternoon, Rackley W.A.R. confirmed that Dawson Sutton will be the team’s full-time driver for the 2025 NCTS race season beginning at Daytona International Speedway in February.
Dawson is expected to wheel the No. 26 for Rackley Roofing Company, Inc. and W.A.R. Shocks. In addition to being the team’s second truck entry, the No. 26 has been Sutton’s number since the start of his driving career in U.S. Legends and throughout his Pro and Super Late Model success. What’s more is the number holds the sentiment of team co-owner Willie Allen, who ran the same number throughout most of his Late Model driving career.
Sutton made his NCTS debut earlier this season at North Wilkesboro’s All-Star weekend on May 18, followed by the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway in June. Following the August Bristol race, Sep. 19, the team announced the 18-year-old from Lebanon, Tenn., would assume the balance of the primary driver duties for the 2024 race season beginning at Kansas. He scored a 5th place finish, his career best to date. He expressed that the new opportunity has him, “beyond words.”
“This is really a phenomenal opportunity,” he said. “I’ve dreamed for this day to come, and my goal is to make it to NASCAR’s Cup Series that represents the best of the best. It’s all a little hard to believe right now, but I know a have a big job to do and that’s exactly how I look at it.
“I’m here racing with Kevin Harvick as my teammate in our Super Late Models this weekend at Las Vegas [The Bullring], so it’s been really cool working with him as well. I’m stoked to be back in the truck for the Homestead-Miami race in a couple of weeks then on to Martinsville and Phoenix.”
Rackley W.A.R. team co-owner Willie Allen, on-site this weekend at LVMS’s “The Bullring” for the CARS Tour West Super Late Model race with Sutton and Harvick driving on Friday, said nothing to this point surprises him at Dawson’s rapid succession in the sport.
“I really don’t think there’s anything he can’t do,” said Allen. “He has a great work ethic; he doesn’t take any of this for granted. He works hard to be the best he can be no matter what the situation. He’s had a short learning curve in everything he’s attempted, and I don’t see any reason that wouldn’t continue in the [NASCAR CRAFTSMAN] Truck Series. We place a lot of confidence in him to represent this team and any of our partners very well going forward.”
Dawson’s father and team co-owner, Curtis, said he’s just proud of his son and finds the opportunity very special to share with his son and his entire family.
“When we started this three years ago, I explicitly told him he had three years to prove himself. He took that to heart and went to work crafting his skill,” Curtis explained. “I couldn’t teach him how to race. I entrusted the best I knew of in Willie Allen, Ron and Candice Hornaday and Joe Ryan to help me determine if he could really do this. He did.
“Racing is not only a business, but a family for sure. Blood or not, it’s a family. But, when it is your blood and the family is on the road for 50 or more races a year together, I won’t lie – it’s special. I’m proud of him just as his mother is. She spent many, many days on the road in his young U.S. Legends career while I was balancing travel between his events and the truck series events. To see this all come full circle is storybook for our family and the many dedicated Rackley W.A.R. and Rackley Roofing Company team members.”
Allen said that the team will make further alliances and strategic partnerships known as they continue to develop.
The 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoffs continue at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 26 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Rackley W.A.R. PR
